Kingdom ditched by council
ANGLESEY has become the second north Wales council to stop using a controversial enforcement firm that issues fines for dog fouling and flytipping.
Kingdom Security has attracted criticism for the alleged tactics its staff are said to use to issue fines of up to £75 to anyone seen littering in public. Earlier this month, Gwynedd Council pulled the plug on its partnership with the St Helensbased firm just two days after its officers started patrolling the county’s streets.
Following suit, Anglesey Council last week announced that it will no longer continue with its 12-month trial after May 2018. However, a separate agreement with Kingdom to handle the island’s parking issues will continue until that year-long trial finishes in December.
According to the authority, the decision was reached “by mutual consent”, with Kingdom taking a “commercial decision to terminate the partnership.”
Highways, Waste and Property portfolio holder, Cllr Bob Parry, said, “This council spends more than £1.3m a year annum on clearing up litter, much of which has been dropped or tipped illegally by irresponsible individuals. Keeping our streets clean and free of rubbish, therefore, remains a key priority.
“Despite a parting of the ways with Kingdom, enforcement action has an integral role to play in ensuring that Anglesey is kept as clean as possible. We must now look at other enforcement options.”
While Kingdom has been issuing members of the public with £75 fines for littering, the local authority only receives a 5% cut of every fine – equivalent to £3.75. The council says it will now look at “alternative local enforcement models” to crack down on litter issues across the island. Cllr John Arwel Roberts, who was the waste portfolio holder when the enforcement trial was introduced during the last administration, added: “We know that the people of Anglesey want litter-free streets and a crackdown on dog fouling in their towns and villages.
“Now that the trial with Kingdom is coming to an end, I look forward to working with colleagues within the council to establish a new method of litter enforcement – one which will ensure clean communities we can all be proud of.”
Kingdom has also been approached for comment.
Welcoming the decision, the island’s MP, Albert Owen, said: “I welcome the news that the Isle of Anglesey County Council is to terminate its contract with Kingdom Security in May 2018.
“I raised the issue directly with the leader of the council and officials earlier this year, and have supported constituents who have fallen foul of the overzealous nature of this company. A large number of Anglesey residents have spoken out as one voice against Kingdom Security.”